On Thursday, January 11, 2023, tensions escalated dramatically as a near-violent clash unfolded between the police and the anti-illegal mining unit of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) in Brofoyedru, Ashanti Region.
The COCOBOD Anti-Illegal Mining Unit was in Old Atatam and surrounding areas in the Fomena District to engage with cocoa farmers and miners, stressing the vital importance of safeguarding cocoa farms against the detrimental impacts of illegal mining.
Surprisingly, farmers and miners disclosed that a group of police officers had been extorting money from illegal miners on a weekly basis, effectively endorsing and facilitating illicit mining activities.
The situation intensified when ten police officers from the Obuasi District Command, in a police vehicle with the registration number GP 3401, were observed returning from the illegal mining sites.
Efforts by COCOBOD officials to interrogate the police personnel further fueled the confrontation, leading to a chase.
Upon reaching a police barrier at Brofoyedru, a vehicle carrying a COCOBOD official, positioned ahead of the team, stopped to block the escaping police vehicle.
The escalation took a dangerous turn when the police threatened to open fire on COCOBOD officials if they did not yield.
Despite the police’s attempts to conceal their identity, the COCOBOD Anti-Illegal Mining team successfully documented the vehicle details, including registration number GP 3401, and identified two officers involved—P. A. Abdellah and one Amidu.
“The COCOBOD team was informed that the Police have arrived, going around taking money and removing parts of the excavators from the miners. The Police later met COCOBOD officials on their way who tried to stop them but the police refused, Upon reaching a barrier at Brofoyedur, they were obstructed by one of COCOBOD’s vehicles and the two teams clashed, One of the Senior Police Officers threatened to shoot the COCOBOD officers in the heat of confrontation.” Head of COCOBOD’s team, Prof. Michael Kwateng, narrated.
Prof. Michael Kwateng, who leads the COCOBOD Anti-Illegal Mining Unit, emphasised the multitude of reports implicating the police in illegal mining activities. This has caused distress among farmers as their cocoa farms continue to face incessant invasions.
Nevertheless, he reiterated COCOBOD’s steadfast commitment to combating illegal mining, emphasising the imperative to protect farmers and their crucial cocoa farms.
COCOBOD officials are urgently appealing to Inspector General of Police Dr. George Akuffo Dampare to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the alleged involvement of police officers in illegal mining.
Despite COCOBOD’s initial projection to purchase 850,000 tonnes of cocoa last year, the actual figures fell short due to the impact of illegal mining and smuggling.